Engine-starting apparatus



' 19 Aug 27 w. A. CHRYST ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed April 18, 1925 a Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 30, 1927.

1,640,753 w. A. C HRYST ENGINE- STARTING APPARATUS 0 Filed Abril 18, '1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ENG/IVE 1,640,153. W. A. CHRYST ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Aug. 30, 1927.

Filgd April 1a, 1925 a Sheets-Shet s Patented Aug. 30, E1927. 1

UNITED STATES. PATENT v OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. CHRYST, or. DAYTON OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY mnsun'assremvrnnrs, "r0 DELCO-REMY CORPORATION, or DAYTON,-OHIO, A CORPORATION or D A ARE.

ENGINE-STARTING APPARATUS App1ioation filed April 18, 1925. Serial No. 24,065.

This invention relates to apparatus for starting internal-combustion engines," and articularlyto the type of apparatus which mcludesjan electric motor normallydisconnected from the engine, and a gear v.operated by the motor and movable into mesh with a gear connected with the engine to be started.

An object of the present invention is to mesh substantially the gears for connecting the motor with the engine, before the motorcontrolling switch is closed, in order to minimize the breakage of gear teeth. I

In the disclosed'embodiment of the invention, this object is accomplished by causing the pinion to be brought into drlving engagement with a rotatably mounted member which is independent of the motor and which may be caused to rotate slowly while the motor gear is being moved into mesh with the engine gear. In this manner meshing of the gears is effected always before the motor switch is closed. In the form of the invention disclosed herein, the rotatable member is actuated by an auxiliary slow-speed motor associated with the starting motor. Where the starting apparatus is applied to an automotive vehicle engine which drives a generator for charging a storage battery, the generator can be operated as a slow speed motor to provide the power for slowly rotating the motor gear prior to engagement with the engine gear.

Further, objects and advantages .of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a referred form of embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. l isa fragmentary side view of an engine equipped with starting apparatus embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram, showing the circuits employed by the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a view on a larger scale than Fig. 1, showing a longitudinal section of a portion of the starting apparatus; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. V

Referring to the drawings, 20 designates an internahcombustion engine including a flywheel gear 21 inclosed by a flywheel housing 22. The housing 22 supports a starting motor 23, the frame of which includes a tubular extension 24 received by a cylindrical recess provided by the housing 22.- The extension 24 is held in lace by a. set screw-25 and lock nut 26. he motor 23 includes a shaft 27 which drives a gear 28 meshing continually with a gear 29 which is loosely journaled upon a sleeve 30 slid able upon a rod 31' which is supported by the housing 22. A gear 32 is also loosely journaled on the sleeve 30 and is adapted to mesh with and drive the engine gear 21. The sleeve 30 is shifted endwise by a manually-controlled mechanism including a pedal 33 attached to a rod 34 which is slidably supported by a bracket 35 mounted upon the housing 22. Bracket 35 supports a shaft 36 which issupported also by a hollow bracket 37. A lever arm 38 is attached to the rod 3 36 and is located within the bracket 35, so

as to be engaged by the rod 34. A lever arm 39 is attached to the rod 36 and is located within, the hollow bracket 37 and is received by a notch 40 included between lugs 41 and 42 which extendupwardly from a. sleeve 43. Sleeve 43 is attached to a rod 44 which is slidable in bearings 45 and 46 provided by the bracket 37. A spring 48 interposed between the bracket.35 and a washer 49 retained by a pin 50 on the rod 34, tends to maintain the rod 34 in engagement with the lever 38 when the pedal 33 is not pressed by the operator. The spring 48, therefore, tends to prevent a noise due to the rattling of the rod 34 within the bracket '35. The sleeve 43is provided with a shiftin fork 51-for engaging a grooved collar 52 w ich is threadedly connected with the sleeve 30. The collar 52 and a shoulder 53 provided by the sleeve 30 limit the separation of the gears 32 and 29.

The hub of gear 32 is provided with notches 54 for receiving the tongues or finv gers 55 of friction plates 56 and of a pinion driving disc 57 having an annular flange 58 for a purpose to be described. The friction plates 56 and the disc 57 cooperate with friction plates 59 having outwardly rojecting tongues 60, which are received by the notches 61 of a cup-shaped member 62, which is attached to a clutch cam 63 having an annular flange provided with a camming edge 64 adapted to cooperate with a companion oblique camming surface provided by the annular flange 65 extending from the gear 29; The camming member 63 is attached to a hub 67 which is slidably mounted on the sleeve 30. It is evident, therefore, that when the gear 29 is the driving member relative to the gear 32, the cam 63 will tend to move away from the cam 65. This action tends to. force the gear 29 against the shoulder 53 and the gear 32 against the collar 52 and to increase the friction between the plates 55 and 59 and the disc 56, so that the gear 29 will drive the gear 32 through the friction plate clutch.

Tn order'to impart initial rotation to the motor gear 32 as it is advanced into mesh with the engine gear 21, there is provided a rotatable device which is actuated independently of the motor and of the mechanism for shifting the motor gear 32. This rotatable device includes a friction wheel which is drivingly connected with the shaft 71, which is operated by a power device 72. During movement of the gear 32 toward the left in .Fig. 3, the peripheral flange 58 of the disc 57 is engaged by the friction wheel 70, which engages the disc 57 before the gear 32 en gages the gear 21, and is not rel eved of engagement with the disc 57 until after the pinion 32 is partly in engagement with the gear 21. The wheel 70 is constructed preferably of pliable rubber, and is yieldably maintained in the position shown, by a spring 73 which urges a on -shaped washer 74 against the wheel 70. pring 73 is retained by a washer 7 5 and a screw 76, which passes through the washer 7 5, spring 73 and disc 74, and which threadedly engages the end of the shaft 71.

The ,ower device 72 is a shunt-wound dynamo, 1n the disclosed form of the invention,

which may operate as a generator when driven bythe engine, or may act as an auxiliary motor for turning the wheel 7 O at relatively slow speed.

SOdesignates a switch for controlling the starting motorcircuit. The switch 80 includes stationary contacts (not shown) but connected with. switch terminals 81 and 82, and a movable contact (not shown) conneeted with a switch plunger 83 arranged in the path of movement ofthe free end of lever 38. The switch contacts are normally maintained separated by a spring 84, located between the head of the switch plunger and the casing of the switch.

To start the engine the switch handle 88 is moved so that the contact 86 will bridge contacts 90, 91 and 92. This causes the battery 93 to be connected with the engine i gniion apparatus, which includes a coil 85, a timer 86 and a distributor 87 and the battery, to be connected with the dynamo 72, causing the latter to operate slowly as a motor. Then the pedal 33 is pressed to cause the gear 32 to move to the left in Fig. 3, and to cause the periphery 58,0f the disc 57 to beengaged by the slowly-rotating wheel 7 0.

By rotating the gear 32 in this manner, it can be readily moved into registration for enmeshment with the gear 21. Continued movement of the pedal 33 downwardly, causes the gear 32 to be meshed completely with the gear 29 and the motor switch 80- to be closed only after substantially complete enmeshment of gears 32 and 21 has been effected. The closing of the switch 80 causes the motor 23 to be connected with the battery or other current source. The motor will turn the gear 29 relative to the gear 32 to tighten the disc clutch. Thereafter, the gear 32 is driven by the motor for cranking the engine through the gear 21. When the engine becomes self-operative the gear 32 tend to rotate faster than the gear 29, thereby causing pressure between the clutch plates to be relieved and the gear 32 to be permitted to rotate relative to the gear 29. Hence the speed of the motor shaft 27 Will be kept within safe limits after the engine is started and before pedal 33 has been released. Release of pedal 33 permits spring 95 which encircles the rod 44, to be released in order tomove the pinion 32 out of mesh with the gear 21.

.During movement of the gear 32 into mesh with the gear 21, slipping may take place between the disc 57 and the wheel 70 inorder to allow the pinion 32 to be meshed with the gear 21, while the shaft 71 is still rotating. As the gear 32 is moved out of mesh from the gear 21, the disc 57 will again be applied to the wheel 70 and will tend to rotate the wheel 7 O faster than normal. Due to the greater inertia of the shaft 71 and parts carried thereby, the motion of the pinion 32 will be quickly retarded after it is with the engine to be started and for causing the motor to operate, and means including a member rotatable inde endently of said first means and the motor or imparting rotation to the-motomgear as it is advanced into mesh with the engine gear.

2. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an electric motor, a gear driven bythe motor means for moving the motor gear into mesh with a gear connected with the cn' ine to be started and for causing the motor to operate, a rotatable member for imparting rotation to the motor gear as it is advanced into mesh with the engine gear, and power. means for operating said member at relatively slow speed.

3. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination; an electric motor, a gear driven by the motor, means for-moving the motor gear into mesh with a ear connected with the engine tobe started and for causing the motor to operate, a rotatable member for imparting rotation to the motor gear as it is advanced into mesh with the engine gear, and an auxiliary slow speed electric motor for operating. said member.

4, Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, .an electric motor, a gear driven by'the motor, means for moving the motor gear into mesh with a gear connected with the engine to be started and for causing the motor to operate, a rotatable member for imparting rotation to the motor gear as it is advanced into mesh with the engine gear, a generator driven by the .engine to be started and operable as aslow speed motor for operating said member, anda storage .battery charged by the generator when oper-' ating as such, and supplying current to both electrical machines when operating as motors.

5. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, anelectric motor, a-gear driven by the motor, means for movingthe motor gear into mesh with a gear connectedl with the engine to be started and for causing the motor to operate, a rotatable member for imparting rotation to the motor gear as it is advanced into mesh with the engine gear, a storage battery, a generator driven by the engine for charging the battery,-ignition apparatus for the engine, a switch ineluding a single controller for connecting the ignition apparatus and generator with the battery whereby the generator may operate as a motor to rotate slowly said rotatable member. I. r

6. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an electric motor, a gear driven by the motor, means for moving the motor gear into mesh'with a gear connected with the engine tobe started and for caus ing the motor to operate; and means independent of the motor for rotating the motor gear, said means including a friction disc connected with the motor gear, a friction wheel located in the path of endwise movement of the disc, and means rotating the frictionwheel. r

7. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an engine gear connected with the engincto be started, an engine gear housing, two dynamo-electric machines mounted upon said housing and having .their shafts extending in parallelism and within said housing', a gear ada ted to move endwise in adirection paralle to said .shafts into mesh with the engine gear, means for caus ing one dynamo to operate slowly as a motor, means for imparting motion from said dynamo to the second mentioned gear as it is moved endwise toward the engine gear,

means for connecting the other dynamo with the second gear, and means for causing the second gear to move endwise into mesh with the engine gear and then "for causing said other dynamo to operate as a motor to crank the engine.

8. Engine starting apparatus comprising in combination, an engine gear connected with the engine to be started, an engine gear housing, two se arate dynamo. electric machines having t eir shafts extending with-j in said housing, a gear adapted to move into engagement withthe engine gear, means forcausing one dynamo to operate slowly as a motor, means for imparting motion from said dynamo to the second mentioned gear as it is moved toward the engine gear, means for connecting ,the other dynamo with the second gear, and means for causing the second gear to move into mesh with the engine gear and then for causing said other dynamo to operate as a motor to crank the engine. 9. Engine startingapparatus comprising, 1n combination, a motor, a gear adapted to mesh with a gear connected with the engine to be started, means for connecting the motor and gear including a one-Way clutch having'a disc connected with the motor. gear, means for moving the gear into mesh with the engine gear and thereafter causing the motor to crank the engine, and means for rotating the motor gear as it moves toward the engine gear including a friction wheel engaging said disc.

10,. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, a gear adapted to mesh with a gear connected with the engine to he started, means .for connecting the motor and gear including a one-way friction plate clutch including a cupped disc connected with the motor gear, means for moving the gear into mesh with the engine gear and thereafter causing the motor to crank the engine, and means for rotating the to the motor gear and movable endwise into engagement with the first friction wheel, and means for rotating the first friction wheel.v

12. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an electric motor, a gear driven by the motor, means for movingthe motor gear into mesh with a gear connected with the engine tobe started and for causing the motor to operate, a friction wheel rotatable upon an axis parallel to the axis of the motor gear, a friction Wheel attached to the motor gear and movable endwise into engagement with the first friction wheel, one of said wheels having a rim of yieldable material engageable with the other wheel, means for urging the rim outwardly "from its axis, and means for rotating the first 10 friction wheel.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature. WILLIAM CHRYST. 

